Hunting

In eastern Oregon, sagebrush stretches to the horizon, and the night skies shine without interference from city lights. Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge is within this sparsely populated area, known by some as the “Oregon Outback.” It’s a relatively unknown area where hunters can venture into places few tourists or outdoor enthusiasts see. The refuge, established to conserve dwindling populations of Oregon’s iconic pronghorn antelope, contains thriving herds and other big game species. On the sagebrush flats, mule deer and pronghorn hunting can be excellent. 

Pronghorn and mule deer are managed as limited entry hunts. Hunters must apply annually through the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife controlled hunt application process. For successful applicants, it can be a hunt of a lifetime. 

The refuge also offers hunting opportunities for chukar, California quail, snipe, dove, and waterfowl (duck, merganser, goose and coot). 

The entire refuge may be hunted except for the three-mile no hunting zone around refuge headquarters and .25 miles around all campgrounds. An off-highway vehicle is recommended, and hunters should carry food, water and other supplies because of the extreme remoteness. In winter and spring, most roads are impassable because of snow or wet conditions. Avoid driving on muddy roads for your own safety and the protection of fragile resources. Emergency services and roadside assistance are not readily available. Refuge staff are not able to provide or sell gas, towing or auto repair service. Hunters are likely to see interesting wildlife and may encounter Native American petroglyphs. All visitors must follow refuge public use regulations, state regulations and refuge hunting and fishing regulations.

State and Federal hunting regulations apply with addition to specific information about Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge, which includes: 

(1) Migratory game bird hunting. We allow hunting of duck, goose, coot, dove, and snipe on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) We allow only portable blinds and temporary blinds constructed of synthetic or nonliving natural materials.

(ii) We prohibit digging pit blinds for waterfowl hunting.

(iii) You may take Eurasian collared-doves only during the State mourning dove season.

(2) Upland game hunting. We allow hunting of chukar and California quail on designated areas of the refuge.

(3) Big game hunting. We allow hunting of deer, antelope, and bighorn sheep on designated areas of the refuge subject to the following conditions:

(i) We allow only portable blinds and temporary blinds constructed of synthetic or nonliving natural materials.

(ii) We allow ground blinds, but we prohibit construction of them earlier than 1 week prior to the opening day of the legal season for which you have a valid permit.

(iii) You must remove blinds within 24 hours of harvesting an animal or at the end of the permittee's legal season (see § 27.93 of this chapter).

(iv) We limit hunters to one blind each, and you must tag blinds with your State license or permit number.

Source: Code of Regulations